The Art of Living: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern Life - Chapter 5

This session will focus on Chapter 5: Philosophical Exercises

PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT CHANGES REGARDING OUR UPCOMING SCHEDULE

***Note that this session will begin at 2:00 pm instead of the usual time of 3pm ***

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Philadelphia Stoa will be adjusting its reading plan. We will be skipping reading Beyond Stoicism during December and instead moving directly to Chapter 5 of The Art of Living: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern Life. We will finish reading “Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans and Other Ancient Philosophers” starting in January 2026. If you have any recommendations for Amjol Shrestha's upcoming series topics, you can message him directly via the Philadelphia Stoa's Meetup page. [https://www.meetup.com/members/310583793/group/28258706/ ](https://www.meetup.com/members/310583793/group/28258706/)

Come join us for Chapter 5, "Philosophical Exercises," from The Art of Living. Discover how ancient philosophy was understood as a practical art of living. We’ll examine the Stoic view of philosophy’s purpose, tracing its roots to Socrates and considering challenges raised by Skeptics. Our discussion will include readings from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, offering a practical perspective on what it means to live philosophically. This approach offers a lasting alternative to the modern tendency to treat philosophy as a natural science and encourages us to reflect on how personal philosophy connects to living well.

While it is helpful to read The Art of Living in advance, it is not required to participate. Copies are available at retailers such as Amazon.
*******************************************************************************
This series is part of an ongoing partnership between the Philadelphia Ethical Society and the Philly Stoa. The Philly Stoa hosts gatherings on the first and third Sunday of each month throughout the fall until the new year. We’ll continue exploring The Art of Living while also deepening our practice through the series Beyond Stoicism: Ancient Philosophies for Modern Times, which offers practical exercises to help bridge theory and everyday life.

The Philly Stoa is a 501(c)(3). To learn more or get involved, visit philadelphiastoa.org/contact.
*******************************************************************************
This series is part of an ongoing partnership between the Philadelphia Ethical Society and the Philly Stoa. The Philly Stoa hosts gatherings on the first and third Sunday of each month throughout the fall until the new year. We’ll continue exploring The Art of Living while also deepening our practice through the series Beyond Stoicism: Ancient Philosophies for Modern Times, which offers practical exercises to help bridge theory and everyday life.

The Philly Stoa is a 501(c)(3). To learn more or get involved, visit philadelphiastoa.org/contact.